IU's Last Fantasy

South Korea’s national little sister is now all grown up and she wants to move on by shedding her childish image, replacing it a more matured image.

Now IU is back her latest album titled Last Fantasy, and it is a real fantasy listening to this album, I tell you. Famous for her three-octave pitch, IU explores a slightly different genre this time round, even lending a hand in composing some of the songs on this album.

Not bad for a young singer, I guess. IU’s forte lies in her soft vocals, which are able to reach high notes. Although she knows her strengths, she does not over-use them, and thus it is a real delight to her songs.

The main track of the album, You and I, is a song which tells of a story of a girl whose is expecting to meet her life partner someday. It is a song of hope and the passing of time, and there might be similarities to her previous hit song Good Day. Furthermore, this is one of my favourites off the album.

The song opens with a movie-like suspense theme song, and IU explores high and low notes in this song. It is a very spirit-lifting song, but it is so unlike other K-pop songs that I must salute IU for standing out with this track.

Here’s the time-travelling music video for You and I, where IU meets her dream guy in the end. I also love the performance version of the song, so do enjoy both music videos!

Secret is a calming song, where IU’s sweet vocals serenade you till you feel as though you are floating on the clouds.

Another track which I love is Uncle, Samchon in Korean, and the upbeat sound of this track somehow appeals to me. A Lost Puppy is IU’s own composition, though I find it a bit too dark, her voice is hauntingly beautiful in this one.

4AM, the track which Corinne Bailey Rae composed, is another one of my favourites. Not counting the fact that I love Corinne’s soulful sound as much as IU does, this track is one that shows that IU is so talented beyond her years. IU’s soulful interpretation is so convincing, so much so till I feel as though Corinne is singing this song.

Other tracks on this album includes Sleeping Prince of the Woods, Child Searching for a Star, Wallpaper Design, Wisdom Tooth, Everything’s Alright, Last Fantasy, Teacher and The Lover (L’amant).

This is the best album from a Korean female singer for the whole of this year. By taking a road less travelled, IU has set herself apart from many other female idol groups in the K-pop scene.

Looking forward to see IU’s Japanese release already!

The author became a fan of IU when she started listening to her awesome voice on Dream High, where she starred as Pilsuk, the ugly but talented star student.

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Deep Rooted Tree: An Intriguing Drama

Another sageuk (historical drama) has hit the silver screens, titled Deep Rooted Tree. The name of the drama comes from a poem (Yongbieocheonga) that says that trees with deep roots do not sway.

The drama takes place in a prosperous time - the era of King Sejong (played by Soong Joong Ki and older self by Han Suk Kyu), who invented the modern Korean writing system in the 15th century. A series of murders occur in Gyeongbok Palace that targeted scholars of the Hall of Worthies, an institute set up by King Sejong for scholarly research.

As Kang Chae Yoon (Jang Hyuk) investigates these cases and gets closer to the truth, he finds himself embroiled in a massive conspiracy behind the killings which involves a group of genius who are willing to risked their lives towards their cause/goals and secret powers who will interfere with the course of his investigations.

Kang Chae Yoon is a former slave turned royal guard. As a child, he is known as Ddol-Bok, and he protected his mentally retarded father from the teasing of other servants of the Queen's family. Later, Ddol-Bok 's father was arrested then beaten near death, dying in front of him and his childhood friend So Yi (Shin Se Kyung) was taken by Court Ladies. He was saved by Yi Do (young King Sejong) and swore to avenge his father's death before he became a soldier by a changed name.

Because of his father's death as child, Chae Yoon has grudge against the King and his childhood sweetheart, who became mute, was taken as a court lady. He doesn't know that So Yi and Dam are same person who he thought had died and reunited after discovering each other.

Meanwhile, King Sejong, who Ddol-Bok held a grudge against is the creator of Hangul. During his early years as king, Yi Do had a strained relationship with his father and harbored guilt for seeing people's suffering (including his wife's family) by his father's tyrannic rule.

While King Sejong (Yi Do) is played by 3 different actors, I felt that Soong Joong Ki portrayed him the best. As a child, he is a rude and arrogant person, as a young adult, he is demotivated and afraid of his father who uses him as a puppet. As a middle-aged man, he is eccentric and sometimes cold. Joong Ki's portrayal of Yi Do is that of a downcast and dispirited young man, and sometimes I can't help but compare how far he had improved since his last appearance in the other famous sageuk, Sungkyunkwan Scandal.

Will Chae Yoon a.k.a. Ddol-Bok manage to kill his saviour, King Sejong in the end? Find out by tuning in to ONE HD on ASTRO b.yond Channel 393 every Monday and Tuesday at 9pm!

The author is a sucker for sageuks, with Jewel in the Palace, Queen Seonduk, Sungkyunkwan Scandal and The Princess’ Man as her top favourites.

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